Clean up Volusia's public pools

OPINION

Diving into a cool, crystalline pool is common summertime fun in Central Florida. But a recent Orlando Sentinel report shows that about 10 percent of public pools and spas in Volusia County failed an inspection this year. Of those cited for water quality, two-thirds were shut down by county health officials. The problem: It's not safe to go in the water.

Volusia has a remarkable record as an aggressive pool-safety watchdog, the best in Central Florida. But the failed inspections and shuttered pools show how easy things can go wrong in maintaining a pool. That's why stringent inspections and fines are crucial.

Incorrect levels of chlorine are a common culprit. Inexplicably, health inspectors' reports across Central Florida show that many public pools don't have any chlorine in them.

Yikes! How is that possible? Chlorine is a disinfectant that is basic to pool cleanliness.

Sometimes equipment, such as pumps and filters, are old and require replacement. But more often than not, many owners and managers of pools in apartments, subdivisions, parks and hotels, among others, aren't checking the water often, though they are obligated to do so.

All it takes is a simple chemical test that can be performed several times a day, especially vital in busy facilities.

Without a proper balance of chemicals, pools may become teeming with bacteria, making people sick. This includes eye and ear infections, as well as diarrhea and other illnesses.

In some cases -- though not all -- a dirty pool is visible to the eye because the water is cloudy or green with algae.

A young boy senselessly died by drowning in a murky hotel pool recently in Osceola County. Police and searchers sadly couldn't spot him at the bottom of the pool, which had been shut down six times in seven years.

Seminole County now requires written notification when a pool reopens, a good procedure for other counties to follow.

It would be better yet if health inspectors aggressively slapped violators with fines, which can reach up to $500 a day. Few do.

Some inspectors say there are too many steps involved and not enough time or staff to follow through.

But don't overlook enforcement tools when the public's health is at stake. A monetary fine is the most powerful weapon at a pool inspector's disposal. Why not use it?

It's important that public pool managers get back to basics and regularly maintain their pools and spas. And health inspectors need to stay on top of the situation -- including regularly issuing fines -- to keep the public safe.